Child, 2 Others Critical In Oakland Shooting; Rapper Denies Being At Scene
OAKLAND (CBS SF) - A man, a woman and a 1-year-old boy remained in critical condition Tuesday after someone opened fire on a group of people making a music video in a West Oakland parking lot on Monday evening, police said.
A total of seven people were injured in the shooting, which happened shortly after 6 p.m. in the 700 block of Willow Street. Police initially said eight people had been shot but clarified Monday that there were seven victims, all of whom remain hospitalized.
Oakland police Sgt. Randy Wingate said Oakland rap artist Kafani had just finished filming the video when someone opened fire on him and a group of about 20 to 30 people. However, Kafani denied being at the location and said he was not shooting a video.
At least one person in the victims' group fired back after shots rang out, police said. An employee at a nearby restaurant said he heard 30 to 40 gunshots.
It is not clear how many suspects were involved, but Wingate said investigators have identified several "persons of interest" in the case. Police are not yet releasing details about those people.
Wingate said police are hoping to speak with more witnesses, and that the victims are "not as cooperative as we'd like them to be."
A $35,000 reward is being offered by Crime Stoppers.
Kafani said it was his cousin, also an aspiring artist, who was filming the video. Some media reports initially stated that Kafani was there but he said he was not.
He said he and his cousin share the same promoter, and the promoter's van was riddled with bullets in the shooting. Kafani said the van was later used to drive some of the victims to the hospital.
Kafani said the little boy who was injured is his cousin, and that the child underwent surgery at Children's Hospital in Oakland on Monday night because of swelling in his brain. He said doctors are monitoring the boy to see if the swelling goes down in the next few days.
"We're just sad about my baby cousin," Kafani said by phone Tuesday morning.
Police have said they do not know the motive for the shooting, and Kafani said he doesn't, either.
"I haven't the slightest idea of why it happened," he said. "I wish I had the answers."
At a news conference at police headquarters Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Jean Quan called the shooting "a senseless and cowardly act."
Quan mentioned the death of 3-year-old Carlos Nava, who was killed by a stray bullet in a shooting in the 6400 block of International Boulevard on Aug. 8.
"I'm particularly touched because another child has been shot," she said.
Councilwoman Nancy Nadel said the shooting showed "a terrible disrespect for human life," and represents "gangsterism and a culture of violence, and we've got to change that."
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
Police and Quan called on witnesses to the shooting to contact police.
"There were plenty of people in that parking lot, and we need people to come forward," she said.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call or send a text message to (510) 773-2805.
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